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Since we started BeamAndGo about a year ago, we read a lot of articles about the remittance industry and spoke to many OFWs. Our aim was to understand what was going on so that we can provide the best solution to the recurring problems.

Here are some interesting numbers …

1. In 2014, overseas remittance into the Philippines totaled almost USD $27 Billion. And for the past 15 years, this number has increased by about 5% annually.

2. Over the last 10 years, the percentage of people living below the poverty level line has remained the same at about 25%; however, because of the increase in population, the actual number of people living below the poverty level line has increased.

How is that possible that even with a steady increase of money being remitted into the Philippines every year, the % of people living below poverty stays the same?

Most of the experts say that it’s because of these three things: (1) lack of financial literacy and limited knowledge which results in saving very little of the remittance money; (2) misuse of the money by spending on non-essentials like cosmetics, fast food, gifts, high-end gadgets, gambling, drugs and alcohol; and (3) theft.

As we always say at BeamAndGo headquarters: “We believe there is a better way for people to support their loved ones in the Philippines other than just sending cash.” Part of it is having more knowledge and paying attention to the management of your money. Every week, our team shares financial tips, tricks, advice and recommendations for Filipinos and OFWs. I think they are all awesome.

2. In the Life & Style section of Rappler, Lianne Martha Maiquez Laroya writes “Saving money is hard – and boring. And most of all, it’s so not effective!” But she goes on to describe 12 tricks that makes the saving process a little less boring. Go to http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/34433-12-tricks-to-save-money to see the full article.

4. The guys at Peso and Sense recommends spending only up to 70% of the monthly cash on expenses, with the rest set aside for savings. It’s a matter of discipline and expense management. Good advice. To read the complete article, go to http://pesosandsense.com/practical-money-tips-for-filipinos.

These articles represent just the tip of the iceberg. The BeamAndGo team has found many more useful articles on ways to make your hard earned money go farther. To see them all, go to http://www.facebook.com/BeamAndGo. And if you like us, you will be notified when we post new articles.

As always, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to contact me at jonathan.chua@beamandgo.com. Also if you like this article, don’t be shy, share it with your friends and family.

I know I promised to write the follow-up to my last article about Good, Fast, and Cheap. But since then, I got caught up in all the drama between Mary Jane Veloso, the Indonesian government, and the Philippines government.

If you are unfamiliar with the Mary Jane Veloso story, basically she was caught by Indonesian customs officials with 2.6 kg of heroin trying to enter Indonesia. As a result, she was convicted and sentenced to death. Rappler did a good job in summing it up in their article The Story of Mary Jane Veloso, in her own words.

What interested me most was that the Indonesian government, led by President Joko Widodo, insisted on proceeding with Mary Jane’s execution, even though there was circumstantial evidence which may have proved her innocence or at least proved that she was a pawn in a bigger plan. His rationale was that Indonesia was experiencing an uptick in drug addiction and drug related deaths and executing Mary Jane was a form of deterrence.

I wondered if this was the best way to tackle a country’s drug problem.

Out of curiosity I checked out the statistics for smoking tobacco. While smoking is legal in most countries in the world, research has found that it is epidemic in some countries and a major contributor of pre-mature deaths in every country where smoking is legal.

However, in the United States, from 1965 to 2006, the % of smokers in the country have dropped from 40% to 20%. And according to USA Today, in 2012, the % of smokers in the USA is down to 18%.

So what caused this decline? Smoking is legal. No one gets executed for importing cigarettes. If caught, smugglers of contraband cigarettes get a jail sentence and do not have to stand in front of a firing squad. It’s obvious that the death sentence had no role in reduction of smoking in the US. Can the same principles apply to illegal drugs, like heroin?

Based on what I have read, here’s what I think a government can do to reduce and possibly eliminate drug addiction in their country …

1. Invest in anti-drug education

Teach often. Teach the teachers. Teach in schools, on the street corners, in the hospitals, on the trains, in the buses.

A little knowledge can go a long way in curbing the demand and allure of drugs.

2. Create better jobs

Drug use disproportionately affects the poor. Per capital the majority of drug abuse (legal and illegal) occurs in poor developing countries. So what can a country do? Create good jobs.

There are many initiatives that a government can do to create better jobs. One of them is to create a better educated workforce. Another is to promote investment, both internal and foreign. And yet another is to establish a brand that is exportable and has value around the world.

There is some truth to the old adage “idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”

A good job not only keeps one occupied but it instills pride and self-worth. In addition, good jobs help raises the standard the living for all and pushes a developing country to a developed one.

3. Rehabilitate drug addicts

Not everyone who falls into drug addiction is a lost cause. Some studies have shown that of the alcoholics and drug addicts that seek help at rehabilitation clinics, about 50% recover. No doubt, it’s a tough road for those seeking to “kick the habit”, but with the proper program, education and support, the odds for recovery increase.

A commitment to rehabilitation sends a few messages: “we care for you”, “mistakes can be rectified”, and “we are an inclusive society”. Furthermore, the recovered are positive examples for others who face the uphill battle.

4. Improve border control

While education, better jobs and rehabilitation will have a profound effect on lowering the levels of drug addiction, there still needs to be vigilance at the borders. Illegal drugs need to be barred from crossing into a country.

Technology will help.

Better trained officers will help.

But I think one of the biggest contributors to a porous border is corruption. However, I don’t recommend getting rid of all officers and officials that are corrupt and hope to replace them with people who will resist temptation. If we did that, we would have no one protecting the borders. It’s very hard to overcome human nature.

The right incentives need to be in place. In most case, people are not bad, it’s the system that needs a reboot. So here’s what I suggest:

a. Hire the smartest people available. Use quantitative tests to identify the best possible candidates. Do not hire based on likeability or connections or alma maters.

b. Increase the staff’s pay. You get what you pay for. Higher pay can be a deterrent for corruption.

c. Commit to training. Teach best practices and learn the latest techniques. Instill pride in the team.

d. Re-evaluate all processes and procedures and replace the ones that incentivizes corruption. Inefficiency in the system encourages people to take short cuts. And short cuts lead to under-the-table opportunities. There are always better ways to do things.

The 4 things I mentioned above are difficult to accomplish. And the results will not come immediately. Furthermore, it requires commitment and unity from multiple government agencies and their leaders. It’s a long term approach. But here’s what it does: saves lives, improves the standard of living, creates a sustainable society that will overcome the drug problem and leaders who can tackle any other issues in the future.

If you have any questions or comments, you can contact me at jonathan.chua@beamandgo.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Over the weekend I read a heart warming story in Rappler about a taxi driver name Mr. Doroteo “Jhun” Ochavo Jr. The piece was written by Katerina Francisco and it chronicled a trip she took with Mr. Ochavo from Manila to Oritgas.

In the article, she proclaimed that Mr. Ochavo is the “most honest” taxi driver in Metro Manila. He spoke fluent English, promoted safety within his vehicle, and had a country-wide reputation for returning lost items found in his cab. He felt thankful for a life of good fortune and gave back by being the best taxi driver he could possibly be.

What traits did this man have that enabled him to not only be a success in his profession but also in life?

Mr. Doroteo “Jhun” Ochavo Jr. (Photo by Katerina Francisco/Rappler)

Many years ago, back in 1981 …

The story of Mr. Ochavo reminded me of an episode from the TV comedy series Taxi. Taxi was a popular TV show that ran in the late 1970s / early 1980s. It centered around the lives of a bunch of New York City taxi drivers within their workplace. The story of Mr. Ochavo reminded me of the 1981 episode called Zen and the Art of Cab Driving.

In the episode, one of the drivers, Jim Ignatowski (played by Christopher Lloyd), decided to be the best cab driver he can be in order to reach his lifelong goal of owning a wall of television sets (remember this is a comedy). He made a conscious effort to not only do everything right as a driver, but also provide the “extras” not normally found in a typical ride in a New York City taxi.

Jim’s taxi was spotless: polished on the outside and squeaky clean on the inside. He provided a history of the city to his tourist passengers as they drove around town. And on cold evenings, he served free cups of coffee and hot chocolate, and distributed warm wool blankets to his shivering customers.

Jim became a superstar taxi driver. And as a result, Jim broke the company’s trip sheet records and amassed enough wealth to purchase all the televisions needed to create his wall.

Reverend Jim “Iggy” Ignatowski

Now, I’m not advocating everyone quit their jobs and get a hack license, but there is something to learn from these two taxi drivers.

1. Set a goal

Mr. Ochavo’s goal was to take care and support his family and send his children to school. For comedic effect and aligned with his goofy character, Jim Ignatowski’s goal was to purchase a lot of TV sets.

Their respective goals defined their purpose and their focus. Without a goal they would not know what they were working for nor would they know what to do with themselves.

2. Plan out the route

While both goals were very different, both Mr. Ochavo and Jim Ignatowski had a similar plan: be honest, be courteous, be informative, and provide exemplary service to all their passengers.

Their plan was their guide.

3. Nothing gets accomplished without effort

However, a plan without action was meaningless. Everyday, as they drove their taxis around Metro Manila and New York City, they were exerting 110% effort into what they did.

Politeness, cleanliness, smooth driving and making a passenger feel safe and secure took a lot of hard work.

If you have not heard, Lee Kuan Yew died this past week on March 23, 2015. And if you don’t know who he is, Lee Kuan Yew is the first Prime Minister of Singapore and the man chiefly responsible for what Singapore is today.

I have lived in Singapore for the past 12 years and here’s the deal: it’s safe here for everyone; it’s clean; efficient – everything works; no corruption; very little traffic; emphasis on education; continual uplifting. I love living here. I chew gum; I have freedom of speech; I respect others and others respect me.

Singapore as a country shows what is possible for any country

Lee Kuan Yew envisioned this possibility and had the determination, perseverance and will to get it done. His views reflected his beliefs and his actions delivered on the promises he made to his country: stability, economic growth, jobs, a thriving metropolis, education for all, and harmony between all races and religions.

To say Lee Kuan Yee was a “great man” is the truth. The scope of his insights, his policies and the resulting product went beyond Singapore during his tenure as the country’s founding Prime Minister. His influence and intellect inspired global leaders till the day he died and will have a profound positive effect on future generations throughout the world.

I urge you to read more about him: his history and more importantly, his views. Just google “Lee Kuan Yew” or visit http://www.rememberingleekuanyew.sg/ and you will find ample reading.